The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-25
MEMPHIS TENN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER

with him into the anti-prohibition camp.
Butler has been congressman before, and
u glance ut piece of past congressional
history VIII give some valuable informa-
ton probably long since forgotten by his
Republican friends.
I'm 1870 Roderick r. Butler was, as now,
the Republican representative in Congress
from the First district of Tennessee. On
the 18th OF March, Of that year, Gen.
Stoughton, of Michigan, from the committee
on military affairs, offered resolution
censuring Butler for his conduct in selling
a West Point cadetship TO son Of Gen.
Tyler, the young man not being u resident
OF Buffers district.
Gen. Logan offered an amendment to
Gen. Stoughton's resolution providing for
the expulsion OF Butler from the House.
This amendment was adopted by Il majority
vote OF l0l to TO o.. Thesame vote was then
given TO the resolution as amended, but il
did not pass, as il lacked few OF the nee
essary two-tlirds. The votes given in
favor Of Buffers expulsion were from both
Republicans and Democrats. The sixty
eight votes in his behalf were all from the
Republican side.
Butler was afterward indicted by the
grand jury of the District of Columbia for
successfully prosecuting in the treasury the
fraudulent Sugg Fort claim, amounting
to S24, 600, but the case was afterward
nolle pressed by ii. II. Wells, then the dis
trict attorney.
"Among the men who voted TO expel
Butler from the House in the Forty-fiHt
Congress, and who will sit with him as
members of the Fiftieth, are Samuel j.
Randall, VIM. ID. Kelly, Chas. O'Neill and
VIM. $. Holman. Senator'S Dawes and
Voorhees,, Gen. Slocum, the late President
Garfield and the late VIM. A. Wheeler
also voted for Buffers expulsion"
DURHAM AND THE FEE GRADERS.
The war which Judge Durham, the first
comptroller OF the treasury has been wag-
ing upon the United States commissioners
OF Alabama, on account Of the alleged
fraudulent manner in which they gathered
unto themselves fees, has been productive
OF good effect. Where, at the time the war
was commenced, there was frequently
difference Of many hundreds Of dollars
in the amount Of the accounts
sent in by the commissioners,
there is now no difference. At least. in
the last account received from the in
fected" district, there was only a dis
crepancy of ~ cents, which was caused by
an error in addition.
The man TO whom this improved condi-
ton OF affairs IL due more Than 10 anyone
else, outside Of the comptroller himself, Is
Mr.. J. Altheus johnson, the chief OF the
judiciary division, 10 whom have been pre-
scented all the accounts Of these officials. IL is
20 the pains-taking efforts OF this gentleman
that the present healthy condition In Ala
bama il due. Mr.. johnson is man OF rare
ability. lie is southerner 10y BIRTH hay-
ing firs. seen the light IN the historic old
county Of Abbeville, $. Q. lie IL
only twenty-nine years old, and his
career has been one TO do honor
not only TO the place Of his birth,
but also 20 the whole south. lie was edu-
Gated at Erskine college at Due West, ). {.
From that institution he graduated with
unusual prestige and with the honoB Of
the place. lie was considered the best
eEsayis, and the best dcbatcr Of the insu-
tuition, and what is more, he stood high In
tine estimation OF the community. After
graduation lac laugh, school in the counties
of Oconcc and Union, s. c., and in Hay
wood county, n. c.. studying law at the
same time. Then he came 10 WASH
ington 10 finish his law studies and grad
uated in due course from Georgetown law
school. lie then went west with party
from the coast and gcodctic survey, and
returning east spent the winter IN haiti
more, where lac was admitted 10 the bar OF
Maryland. Coming back 20 this city he
was admitted 20 practice here. Mr.. john
son was appointed TO n clcrkship In the
first comptrollcr's Office through the civil
service, securing the only vacancy 10y beat
ing all his forty competitors. This was IN
March, 1884, and the following year he
was promoted 10 the position he now
holds Through his hands pass all the ac-
counts Of the United States mar
shals. clerks Of the United States
courts, United States commissioner, and
the accounts for the salaries Of the United
States Judges, manshals, attorneys, m we'll
~ the expenses Of the court Of claims
For 30 young man this is an important
position, hut the record lac has made since
he entered the Office Is sufficient TO justify
his retention In the place.